It is an ancient Jewish custom to begin a day the evening before. Christianity has picked this practice up and some churches normally keep the first Evening Prayer of a saint the evening before the actual saint’s day. Tomorrow is the feast of St. James. This evening, although we are enjoying our normal service of Evensong, I’ve asked for the readings for the first Evening Prayer of St. James because it is important for us, whenever we can, to remember the saints and to contemplate their lives.
James and his brother John were among the first disciples called by Jesus. Galilean fisherman, they were the sons of Zebedee, and some readings of scripture suggest that they were likely cousins of our Lord. Together with Peter, James and John were especially close to Jesus. The three men were present at the Transfiguration and later were with Jesus in Gethsemane. James was also one of the ones present for the appearances of Christ after the resurrection.
When the Eucharist is celebrated on the feast of St. James, the gospel reading is normally the passage from Matthew where the mother of James and John comes to Jesus and asks that her two sons be granted the honour of sitting on Jesus’ right and left in the kingdom. Considering the central place James and John had in Jesus’ life, is it at all surprising their mother asks Jesus to ensure that they have a central place in the kingdom?
There is a curious distinction between this passage in Matthew and its equivalent in Mark’s gospel. Mark has James and John themselves ask Jesus directly to grant that they sit on his right and on his left. But by the time Matthew’s gospel was written, James and his brother had entered into a special place in the regard of the followers of what became known as “The Way.” Perhaps Matthew was trying to lessen the negative impact of the request by having it come from James’ mum rather than the boys themselves. In Mark, Jesus says three things in response to the request: one is that a place in the kingdom demands suffering, another is that it is not Jesus’ place to assign status in the coming kingdom and the third thing is that leadership in the community means service. In essence, the request for James and John to sit at Jesus’ left and right is a request for special status, for a reward if you like–it’s a sign of ambition. Which leads to the question: What place does ambition have—-indeed, does ambition have a place–in those who are chosen to be leaders in The Way?
Matthews’ gospel also tells us that when the ten heard of James and John’s mother’s request, they were angry. At first one might think that they were angry that such a request had been made in the first place. But perhaps they were angry because they too coveted the position but had not had the nerve to ask. This second reading of the ten’s anger reveals that they still thought in terms of personal reward and distinction. And Jesus makes clear that this is not what the kingdom is about.
Mark’s account has Jesus offering two models of authority: free service and involuntary slavery. And his example is one of humble service of the community as a leadership style. So this would seem to indicate that ambition has no place in the followers of The Way, let alone in its leaders. But consider further.
Certainly an aggressive sort of ambition in recruiting new converts or seeking new members or whatever is not what Jesus was after. But he was after energy. James and John were known as the Boanerges–the sons of thunder. They were, in other words, hotheads. There was a great energy driving them, one that tended to make them a bit headstrong, but a great energy none-the-less. And these two men of great energy were two of the three people closest to Jesus. He saw great potential in them if that energy could be harnessed for the kingdom. But it was not to be the energy of greedy ambition–not to be the energy that drives us to achieve and do much in order for our own recognition and status.
The energy that Jesus looks for is one of endurance, perseverance and humility. It is the energy that enables us to endure the suffering Jesus speaks about, perseverance in promoting the kingdom of God with the humility to realise that it is all for God and not for ourselves. We are concerned for our well being, we take care of our lives, our bodies, our souls, but we are not driven by the ambition to take the place of God in the kingdom. Tonight we heard another passage from Mark; the story of the resurrection of Jairus’ dead daughter and the healing of the woman who had suffered from haemorrhages for twelve years. Surely these stories are examples of why each of us tries, day by day, to be disciples of Christ: so that through Jesus people will experience resurrection in their lives and healing–healing from even the most intractable of problems. In fact, the story of the woman who suffered from haemorrhages is an example of this incredible energy of the sons of Zebedee. Here is a woman who suffered for twelve long years; here is a woman who endured–who endured not only horrible suffering with her haemorrhages but who was made worse by the treatments she received; here is a woman who persevered–in trying to find a cure for her problem; and finally, here is a woman who was humble–for in seeking healing from Jesus she wanted no glory or recognition for herself.
For about ten years after the crucifixion James worked tirelessly for God’s kingdom. And it was from a humble energy of free service that he worked. Indeed, by the time Matthew wrote his gospel, James was considered to have been (as this is perhaps 40 years later) nearly perfect. Sometime between 41 and 44 Herod Agrippa was so spooked by the growth of Christianity that he felt he could stop it by silencing its leaders–if people stopped hearing The Way they would stop becoming followers. So James was put to death–it is thought–being beheaded by the sword, probably the first martyr among the twelve.
Amen
Terrance Bell
Readings (1st Evening Prayer of St. James):
Deuteronomy 30:11-20
Mark 5:21-43